Trump and Zehran Mamdani Crisis: Public Threats and Accusations of 'Communism'

In a controversial escalation within the local elections race in the United States, President Donald Trump threatened to arrest Zehran Mamdani, the Democratic Party candidate for the position of mayor of New York City, over Mamdani's statements pledging not to cooperate with federal immigration authorities if elected.

The statements came during a press conference held by Trump on Tuesday, where he said emphatically: 'If he refuses to allow immigration agents to do their job, we will have to arrest him'.

He added: 'We don't need a communist in this country, but if we have one, I will closely monitor him on behalf of the nation'.

Zehran Mamdani, known for his progressive stances, previously stated that he would use his powers to prevent what he described as 'raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the arrest of neighbors without warrants', and affirmed his commitment to protecting undocumented residents in the city.

Trump not only stopped at threatening arrest, but also threatened to cut federal funding to New York if Mamdani wins and continues to adopt policies against immigration enforcement.

He said: 'We send him money, and we send him everything he needs to run his government, and if he refuses to cooperate, we will stop that immediately'.

Legally, it is noted that the federal government is constitutionally responsible for enforcing immigration laws in the United States, but local states and cities are not obligated to cooperate with these laws, known as the 'sanctuary cities' policy, which is a subject of intense political debate between the Republican and Democratic parties.

This verbal confrontation between Trump and Mamdani comes at a politically sensitive time, as the elections approach, reflecting the sharp divide in immigration policies and the role of local governments in dealing with federal laws.